Mozambique's president and the leader of the opposition party, RENAMO, opened a third round of talks on Thursday aimed at resolving a dispute over elections held more than a year ago, state radio reported.

The radio station said that President Joaquim Chissano and opposition leader Afonso Dhlakama were accompanied by members of their parties who have been trying to resolve the dispute over the December 1999 general election. Dhlakama and Chissano have already met twice, agreeing to set up special working groups to study proposals for ending the dispute.

News reports said the working groups on public administration and constitutional matters were expected to deliver their reports during the meeting on Thursday.

RENAMO wants Chissano to appoint governors from the opposition party in the six central and northern provinces where it won the most votes in the election. Chissano has argued that the appointment of RENAMO governors lacked a legal basis, and that it was up to the joint working group on constitutional and judicial matters to debate the issue.